By Tobias Holm and Tony Figueroa

Male bucks fight with their antlers to mate with the female doe.

Male bucks fight with their antlers to mate with the female doe.

Snakes mate for a short time to lay eggs.

Male bucks fight with their antlers to mate with the female doe.

Snakes mate for a short time to lay eggs. Some species of birds will test the males’

craftsmanship by making a makeshift nest.

Bears hibernate in the winter to stay warm.

Bears hibernate in the winter to stay warm.

Ptarmigans shed their feathers from brown to white to camouflage in the snow.

Bears hibernate in the winter to stay warm.

Ptarmigans shed their feathers from brown to white to camouflage in the snow.

Bears hibernate in the winter to stay warm.

Ptarmigans shed their feathers from brown to white to camouflage in the snow.

Bears hibernate in the winter to stay warm.

Ptarmigans shed their feathers from brown to white to camouflage in the snow.

Conifers are cone shaped, so the snow slides off their branches.

Bears hibernate in the winter to stay warm.

Ptarmigans shed their feathers from brown to white to camouflage in the snow.

Conifers are cone shaped, so the snow slides off their branches.

Cacti have thick spikes covering them, so nothing eats them.

Cacti have thick spikes covering them, so nothing eats them.

Cacti have thick spikes covering them, so nothing eats them.

Chameleons camouflage to hide from predators.

Cacti have thick spikes covering them, so nothing eats them.

Chameleons camouflage to hide from predators.

Zebras have stripes to confuse predators

Peregrine falcons dive bomb their prey, mainly smaller birds.

Peregrine falcons dive bomb their prey, mainly smaller birds.

Lions stalk zebras in the tall grasses of Africa.

Peregrine falcons dive bomb their prey, mainly smaller birds.

Lions stalk zebras in the tall grasses of Africa.

Venus flytraps kill flies and bees by luring them in with sweet nectar, and devour them with deadly acids.

For these reasons, adaptations are vital for living organisms’ survival.